Last reviewed: 3 October 2026

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Which systems and appliances does a home warranty typically cover?

A home warranty is a contract to repair or replace certain home systems and appliances. The contract, not a standard list, decides what is covered. This page shows what two official sources say and how to read the covered-items part of a contract.

What the sources say is typically covered

The FTC is the federal consumer protection agency. It says a home warranty is "really" a service contract. A service contract is a separate agreement you buy to have a product repaired or replaced. The FTC says home warranties last "for a set amount of time" and, unlike builder warranties for new homes, "they cost extra."¹

California's Department of Insurance describes a home warranty as a contract in which the warranty company "promises to repair or replace parts of a home system or certain appliances, such as washers, dryers, ovens, and refrigerators."² The table below sorts the items that page names. These are examples, not a list of what any one contract covers.

There is no standard list

California says "Home warranty forms are not standardized." It also says "The specific appliances, systems, and components a warranty covers will be stated in the contract."² So two contracts for the same home can list different items.

The same page gives one pricing example. A warranty that covers air conditioning and a swimming pool "generally will cost more than a warranty that does not."² The sources do not set out standard plan tiers, so this page does not describe any.

Coverage has limits

A list of covered items is only part of the picture. California says it is "especially important to read and understand the 'exclusions' and dollar limits on what the company will pay."² An exclusion is something the contract says it will not cover. A dollar limit is the most the company will pay.

California also says many buyers "only discover the exclusions, conditions, and limitations that exist in every home warranty when they file a claim and have it denied."²

The FTC lists questions to ask before you commit. Are there limits on the amounts you can be reimbursed? Is accidental damage covered? Are certain appliances or systems not included? Are there restrictions or fees for cancellation?¹ The FTC adds that a home warranty may duplicate coverage you already have, or cover only part of a product.¹

California's page also says home warranties "cover wear and tear, deterioration, or defects that existed when you bought or leased your home."² That sentence describes the product in general. What a given contract excludes is set by its own wording. Our guide on pre-existing conditions covers what the same regulator says about exclusions and required disclosures.

What a home warranty is not

California says a home warranty is not homeowners' insurance. A homeowners' policy "covers damage to your personal property and dwelling caused by major events, including natural disasters like wildfires." California adds that home warranties "do not overlap or replace a homeowners' insurance policy."² See our comparison of home warranties and homeowners insurance.

What California requires a contract to state

This list is California law as the regulator describes it. Other states differ. California says a home warranty must specify, "in clear and conspicuous terms":²

• each appliance, system and component covered;
• all exclusions and limitations;
• the period the contract stays in effect, the fee, and any renewal terms;
• the services the company will perform, and the terms of that work;
• any service fee charged for those services;
• any limits on when or where services can be requested or performed.

It also lists a statement that services will be performed on a phone request without claim forms first, and a representation that services will be started within 48 hours of a request.²

A reading order for the covered-items section

This is our own suggested order, built from the questions the FTC and California raise. It is not a rule.

1. Find the list of covered items. Check each one against what you actually have.
2. Find the exclusions. Look for items, conditions or causes the contract says it will not cover.
3. Find the dollar limits and any service fee charged each time someone visits.¹
4. Find the length of the contract, the price and the renewal terms.²
5. Note anything the contract does not mention. The FTC's general advice on service contracts is: "If it isn't listed in the contract, assume that it's not covered."³

Where this fits in our standard

Point 1 of our standard asks whether contract terms and exclusions are disclosed in plain language before purchase. The Register reports how we check home warranty providers against that point and others. It describes a method, not a recommendation of any company.

How to verify this yourself

• Read the FTC alert (reference 1) and California's Home Protection Contracts page (reference 2). Every quotation above comes from one of them.¹²
• Read the sample or actual contract. The covered items, exclusions and limits are in the contract itself.
• For a company licensed in California, the Department of Insurance says it posts license and complaint information for each home warranty company on its website.²
• For your own state, find your consumer protection office through the USAGov directory.

What this page is not

This is general information, not legal advice. It does not list what any particular company covers or excludes, and it does not say whether a home warranty is worth buying. The California requirements apply to California. The sources do not describe plan tiers, so this page does not.

What to do next

Before you sign, read the contract's list of covered items and its exclusions side by side. Our guides on comparing contracts, coverage caps and verifying a company go further. Start from the home warranty hub or see how home warranties work.